It’s a waste of time ranking the Jay Cutlers and Kyle Ortons of the quarterback world. And apologies to Ben Roethlisberger and Carson Palmer, who had very good years only to barely miss out on the playoffs.
But just as in the NFL, only the playoff-bound passers made the Tuesday Morning Quarterback cut this week. If Andy Dalton is ranked No. 12 of 12, you know this is a deep quarterback field.
The QB rankings entering the playoffs:

I write up how easy it is to compile passing stats in the NFL this year and what happens this week? All but two quarterbacks – Peyton Manning and Andy Dalton — throw for less than 300 yards. Fourteen quarterbacks threw for less than 200. And Ryan Tannehill didn’t even reach 100.
It was also another week when Peyton Manning widened the gap between the best and all others.
The biggest final week showdowns pit Jay Cutler against Matt Flynn in Chicago and Nick Foles against most likely Kyle Orton as there are reports Tony Romo has a herniated disc and is done for the season — in Dallas.

1. Peyton Manning, Broncos (1)
Peyton said 51 touchdowns will get broken. But if he throws, say, three more at Oakland, will 54 stand for a while? Also averaging 347.4 yards per game and needs 266 more to break Drew Brees’ record of 5,476.

2. Nick Foles, Eagles (6)It’s easy to play quarterback when your two tailbacks, LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown, combine for 248 yards and 3 TDs on 27 carries. Still, can’t play much better than 21 of 25 for 230 yards, 2 TDs and 0 picks in 54-11 trouncing of Bears. Next up: Win-or-go-home game at Dallas for division title.

3. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (4)It’s a shame his team is wasting one of his best years. Threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and led game-winning drive in final minutes to win in the Green Bay snow.

4. Tom Brady, Patriots (2)Had a Bob Griese-like day, completing 14 of 26 for only 172 yards, 1 TD and no mistakes in 41-7 home romp against Baltimore.

5. Andy Dalton, Bengals (22)If he was your quarterback in Fantasy League championship, congratulations. Had his best statistical day as a pro, throwing for 366 yards, 4 TDs, 0 interceptions in romp against Minnesota.

Peyton Manning is congratulated on the Broncos sideline after setting the NFL single-season TD record. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

You’re going to read a lot in tomorrow’s Denver Post about Peyton Manning’s single-season touchdown record, but here’s a quick look at the other players on the top-10 list. Notice, all but Dan Marino and Kurt Warner put up their numbers after 2000.

Broncos media services manager Rebecca Villanueva displays a jersey with quarterback Peyton Manning’s name and number in March 2012.

Sometimes, it’s tough for us people in the trees to see how no one in the mighty NFL forest is more popular than Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning.

The NFL just released its top 25-selling jerseys in the period from April 1-Nov. 30, and Manning was No. 1. Frankly I’m a tad surprised because his jersey has been in circulation for two years. But as the RGIII star drastically dimmed and with little sex appeal in this year’s rookie class (Geno Smith, anyone?), the trusted Manning remains on top.

Maybe that explains why the Broncos are playing their freakin’ sixth prime-time night game Thursday against the San Diego Chargers.

Take Aaron Rodgers out of play, and add in slumps to Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Robert Griffin III and Colin Kaepernick, and it’s difficult to find 10 quarterbacks worthy of the top 10. But watch out for Matt McGloin. Just don’t watch Geno Smith.

1. Peyton Manning, Broncos (1)The ankle did bother him on some throws but a big reason why Chiefs didn’t have one quarterback hit, much less a sack, is because quick-throwing Manning didn’t give them time.

2. Drew Brees, Saints (2)Down 20-14 in fourth quarter against tough 49ers defense, directed three consecutive field goal drives for win. Did get a lucky penalty.

3. Cam Newton, Panthers (10)Came up with the scramble of the year in impressive Monday night win against the Patriots. Also threw for 3 TDs without a turnover.

4. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (5)Posted the highest passer rating of the week (151.4) by throwing for 230 yards and 2 TDs on just 13 completions in 41-20 romp of Minnesota. Enters well-deserved bye at 10-1.

The New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees is a fantasy football player’s dream quarterback. (AP photo)

Amazing, isn’t it? All these young guns. Andrew Luck. RG III. Colin Kaepernick. Cam Newton. None of them anywhere close to playing with Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Russell Wilson is maybe in the neighborhood, although let’s see what happens when the Seahawks ask him to start throwing for 300 yards a game.

Sometimes the best way to get ahead is to do nothing. Peyton Manning had slipped from No. 1 for the first time all season, to No. 3. But No. 1 Aaron Rodgers suffered an early injury Monday night and No. 2 Drew Brees threw two interceptions in defeat.

At least two well-considered quarterbacks reverted to form last week. For Tom Brady that was a good thing. For Andy Dalton it was not. And Matt Ryan is playing the worst quarterback of his career.
The QB rankings entering week 10:

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers scrambles past Atlanta Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton on a 7-yard touchdown run during the second half of a playoff football game Jan. 15, 2011, in Atlanta. (Dave Martin, The Associated Press)

I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t keep a quarterback coming off a three-interception, four-turnover game at the No. 1 spot. Call me harsh, Broncos fans. But what’s the point of having weekly rankings if you can’t make changes each week? Have you seen Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees throw lately? They are the fairest in the land. And then there were dual-threat QBs, Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick, making their moves. The QB rankings entering Week 9:

2. Drew Brees, Saints (4)Threw 5 TDs with 0 interceptions against Buffalo while completing 26 of 34 for 322 yards. Now tied with Tom Brady for fourth all-time with 343 touchdowns. Brady is 35 with 9 TD passes this year. Brees is 33 with 19 TD passes in one less game.

3. Peyton Manning, Broncos (1t)Reached the halfway point still leading the NFL in touchdown passes (29), yards (2,919) and passer rating (119.1). But after throwing 16 TDs with 0 picks in first four games, has 13 TDs, 6 picks in last four.

The Broncos will have to give Peyton Manning better protection if he is to go wire-to-wire ranked No. 1 in our poll. Some major moves up the rankings were made by Andy Dalton and Philip Rivers while Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Nick Foles and Jay Cutler plummeted. Romo’s drop wasn’t so much about his performance Sunday (although there were two picks) as he was overrated last week. And poor Matt Barkley. It can’t get any worse. The QB rankings entering week 8:

1. Peyton Manning, Broncos (1 last week)First time this year he played under serious pass-rush duress. Had 5 sacks first 6 games, but four against Colts. Even with passes following the arc of dying quails, he still threw for 3 TDs and league-most 386 yards.

Yeah, Peyton Manning and the Broncos’ offense was off last week. Their 35 points were only the second-highest to St. Louis’ 38. Major moves up the board were made by former Bronco Jay Cutler, Nick Foles, Cam Newton and Ben Roethlisberger. The tumblers were Andrew Luck, Geno Smith and Terrelle Pryor:

Quarterback ……………….. (Last week’s ranking)
1. Peyton Manning, Broncos (1)Even if he didn’t have his best game against Jags, it would be harsh to knock him down a peg, especially when Brees lost and Rodgers didn’t play his best, either. And I couldn’t put Tony Romo No. 1. Manning has set TD pass record through each game this season but his streak may be about to end. His 22 TD passes through six games broke Tom Brady’s 2007 record of 21. But Brady had 6 TD passes in game 7 of 2007

Tuesday Morning QuarterbackIt’s tough to rate Tom Brady. We know what he’s done. Which is more than any other active quarterback. But you weigh that against what he’s doing now. Which isn’t much. The top two quarterbacks stay the same this week with no one playing at Peyton Manning’s level. But there are massive changes after Drew Brees at No. 2:Quarterback ……………….. (Last week’s ranking)

1. Peyton Manning, Broncos (1)

No coach, no commentator, no player has ever mastered the game of football like this guy is now. His pace through four games last week of 64 touchdown passes seemed silly – except he’s still on pace for 64 TDs through five games.

Quarterbacks are paid to win games. But last weekend, three notable QBs – Matt Schaub, Joe Flacco and Jay Cutler – lost games by throwing the ball to the wrong team. There were four quarterbacks who didn’t start the previous week. And for all the buzz about the talented, young, athletic crop of quarterbacks, look whose 1-2-3:

Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger have a diminished supporting cast and look below average. The supposedly super sophomores are slumping. Five quarterbacks – Jay Cutler, Matt Schaub, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and EJ Manuel – came through in the final seconds/minutes. There are but two quarterbacks, though, clearly playing above the rest. They rank 1-2 in week 2 of the Tuesday Morning Quarterback rankings:Quarterback ……………………… (Last week’s ranking)
1. Peyton Manning, Broncos (1)None of those athletic young guns have this guy’s discipline, his ability to control the game, his accuracy.

Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway gets off a pass as a San Francisco 49ers player grabs him from behind.

It’s widely believed a team can no longer win a Super Bowl without an elite quarterback. Perhaps another qualifier should be added to this theory: Older, elite quarterbacks aren’t winning Super Bowls, either.

I got to thinking after watching Baltimore’s Joe Flacco outplay Peyton Manning, 36, and Tom Brady, 35, in back-to-back playoff weeks. Since the Broncos’ John Elway won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997-98 at 37 and 38 years old, the NFL has been been a fairly young QBs game.

The oldest QB to win a Super Bowl since Elway was Tampa Bay’s Brad Johnson, who was 34 in the 2002 season. Johnson is also considered the last mediocre quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning goes into the bye week as the defending AFC offensive player of the week. Manning won the award for a league-record 22nd time.

I assume Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers (6 TD passes, 0 picks in shellacking of Houston Texans) will be the NFC offensive player of the week. Manning was just as obvious a selection in the AFC.

On Monday night, Manning completed 24-of-30 passes (80 percent) for 309 yards with three touchdowns and one interception (129.0 rtg.) in leading the Broncos from a 24-0 halftime deficit to 35-24 win. The comeback tied for the largest in club history. Denver became just the fifth team in league annals to overcome a halftime deficit of at least 24 points.

Peyton Manning’s No. 18 Broncos jersey has been the top seller among NFL players since the day he signed with the team. In the latest update released by NFLShop.com., 49ers middle linebacker Patrick Willis is the top seller among defensive players and the Giants’ Victor Cruz is the top-selling receiver.

If it weren’t for Aaron Rodgers, we might be talking about Sunday’s Broncos vs. Patriots matchup as a battle of NFL MVP contenders. (Well, assuming voters would logically choose the player who was most valuable to their team, as opposed to the best player overall, but we digress).

Still, with Tim Tebow lining up opposite Tom Brady, it sets up an intriguing matchup. Fans and critics will be able to compare two wildly different styles and skill sets. And if you think any possible outcome will actually quiet either critics or fans of either QB, you’re nuts.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.